Identifying tag



March 22 1927. 1,621,810

C. M. RICE IDENTIFYING TAG Filed July 19. 1923 /N VEN fof?- K//Am f5 M. /P/E Patented Mar. 22, 192?.

MZLSMI ri: oie-trice.:

CIAlB-LEM- RICE,-

ST- LQUlS) MISSOUBL IDENTIFYING TAG.

Application filed July 19, 1923.

This invention relates generally to im:- provements in identifying tags andpart'cularly to an identifying which is 1ntended for usel in' marking trees, shrubs, plants andthe like.

As is well known, it is the common practice to mark trees, shrubs, plants and the like by means of a label which is attached to or is located immediately adjacent to the plant identified. l)rio r to this in-vention'the common custom was to attach a paper or cardboard label to a stick of wood', which stick of wood was driven into the ground, or toattacli said' label to the plant by means of' a cord or the like; but because these labels were usually located out of doors they were exposed to the weather, and it was consequently quite difficult to maintain said labels in such conditi-'on that the matter print ed or written thereon might be read. It also frequently happened that the entire tag itself was destroyed.

The object of the present invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive identify ing tag which is entirely impervious to moisture, and said tag comprises a transparent waterproof receptacle within which one or more labels are loca-ted in such manner that the printed or written matter on said labels may be read through the walls of said transparent receptacle, said receptacle being so constructed and arranged that moisture may not come in Contact with the labels therein.

V/ith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel ccnstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawin wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends.

changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

Fig. I is a side elevation of my improved identifying tag showing same supported by a stick driven into the ground at a point adjacent to a plant.

Fig. II is a vertical section of the identifying tag and the associated stick shown in Fig. I.

Fig. III is an enlarged section on the line III-III of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a view illustrating another manner of using my improved tag, said tag in Selal No. 652,469.

this case being secured directly tothe plant. F 1g. V is av view showing stillg another mann-er of using my improved* tag, in which ase a' single member' is arranged on the upper end' portion of a stick which is driven into the ground andi` a label is interposedl between the stick and the wall of said member. In the dr wing l designates my improved identifying tag, which comprises a pair of telescoping members l and 2, said' telescoping members being formed of mica or other transparent material. The members l and? 2 are hollow and are each provided with a closed upper end l" and 2', and said members are of such lengths and diameters that the member 2 will lit closely within the member l, as shown in Fig.` II. The members l and are each provided' with a plurality of' flat faces 4, and these flat faces are so arranged on said members that the faces onone member are located adjacent to the flat faes on the associated member when said members are telescoped one within the other, and the member l is provided with an eye 5 which is intended for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

Interposed between the flat faces 4 of the members l and 2 is a pair of labels 6, said labels bearing printed or written matter on the faces thereof which are adjacent to the inside face of the member l. In locating the labels 6 in place between the members l and 2, said labels are bent in the form of a letter U, and in this form are arranged over the top portion of the inner member 2. The end portions of said labels lie adjacent to diametrically opposite fiat faces t of said member 2, and the intermediate portions of said labels are curved over the upper portion of said member. Then two labels are used as shown in Figs. I to IV, inclusive, said labels will be arranged so that they cross each other at the top of the member E2 and with the printed portions of one of said labels interposed between the flat faces 4t which are at right angles to the fiat faces between which the printed portions of the other label are interposed. It is apparent that when the labels are located between the members l and 2 as described, the danger of the printed or written matter on said labels becoming illegible because of moisture coming into contact with said labels is very remote, and the identifying matter on said labels may at all times conveniently be read through the wall of the transparent member 1. It is, of course, obvious that it may be desirable to use one label or more than two labels with my device, and it is plain that by increasing or decreasing the number of flat faces 4 any number of labels might be used.

My improved identifying tag may be used in several different ways. For instance, when said tag is used as illustrated in Fig. I a stick S is driven into the ground at a point immediately adjacent to a plant to be identified, and after the members l and 2 and labels 6 have been assembled in the manner described above, the tag is arranged on said stick so that the upper portion thereof extends into the hollow interior of the member 2 whereby said tag is rigidly supported on said stick. In using the tag in the manner just described, the upper end portion of the stick should be shaped to lit reasonably snugly within the member 2.

When my improved tag is used as illustrated in Fig. IV a cord or similar flexible connecting device C is passed through the eye 5 secured to the member l and the opposite end of said connecting device is attached to the plant.'

When the tag is used as shown in Fig. V,

a label is bent in the form of the letter U and is arranged over the top of a stick 3 which has previously been driven into the ground adjacent to the associated plant. O ne of the members 1 or 2 is then arranged over the upper portion of said stick so that said label is interposed between the stick and the inside face of said member, whereby said label will be protected from moisture.

I claim:

An identifying tag comprising a pair of telescoping members, one of which is transparent, said telescoping members being provided with a plurality of fiat faces, said flat faces of one telescoping member being locatedadjacent to the flat faces of the associated member when said members are telescoped one within the other, and a plurality of labels interposed between the flat faces of said telescoped members so that said la-` bels may be read through the flat faces of said transparent member, said labels being bent in the approximate shape of a letter U and being passed over an end of the inner member and extended longitudinally thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES M. RICE. 

